C-RAD SENTINEL™ SELECTED AS ELEKTA PREFERRED SOLUTION FOR INTRA FRACTION MOTION DETECTION
Press Release Stockholm, Sweden, July 21, 2009
Elekta and C-RAD have reached an agreement where the Sentinel™ laser scanner system has been selected as the Elekta preferred solution for optical surface tracking. Elekta's customers will be offered this superior technology for patient positioning and intra fraction motion detection without the use of markers. In response to an increasing demand from customers for a ‘contactless' patient positioning and monitoring solution, Elekta has chosen to partner with C-RAD due to a close match in philosophies of personalized medicine, efficiency and minimal invasiveness. The C-RAD Sentinel™ is an advanced laser-camera based system that can be used for multiple applications within the field of radiation therapy. In contrast to alternative approaches, by using advanced laser surface scanning technology the need for implanted or even surface located reference markers is avoided. This approach delivers workflow efficiencies for the clinic and greater comfort for the patient. “This collaboration with C-RAD ensures that Elekta continues to provide the most comprehensive Motion Management solutions to support our customer's freedom to choose the best treatment approach for each individual patient. It is therefore entirely complementary to our existing product portfolio and open systems philosophy,” says Jill Stief, Elekta Director Product Management Oncology Systems. “This collaboration with Elekta is of strategic importance and gives us a tremendous leverage for reaching out to radiation therapy centers worldwide,” says Erik Hedlund, CEO at C-RAD AB. "The Sentinel System is an ideal solution for intra fraction motion monitoring especially in combination with the HexaPOD™ evo RT system. Identified patient movements during the treatment can like this be repositioned very quickly. The patient error correction values obtained by the Sentinel scan can then be utilized by iGUIDE® to accurately reposition the patient ensuring continuity of effective and efficient treatment," says A.B. Claudio Karpf, Elekta Product Manager robotic systems / MMS. According to the agreement, the Sentinel™ system is now being made available through the Elekta sales and distribution network to Elekta customers worldwide. For further information, please contact: Stina Thorman, Investor Relations, Elekta AB, Phone +46 8 587 25 437 E-mail stina.thorman@elekta.com Michelle Lee, Director Marketing Services, Elekta AB, Phone +1-770-670-2447 E-mail michelle.lee@elekta.com Erik Hedlund, CEO C-RAD AB, Phone +46-18-666931, E-mail erik.hedlund@c-rad.se ****** About Elekta Elekta is a human care company pioneering significant innovations and clinical solutions for treating cancer and brain disorders. The company develops sophisticated state of the art tools and treatment planning systems for radiation therapy and radiosurgery, as well as workflow enhancing software systems across the spectrum of cancer care. Stretching the boundaries of science and technology, providing intelligent and resource-efficient solutions that offer confidence to both healthcare providers and patients, Elekta aims to improve, prolong and even save patient lives, making the future possible today. Today, Elekta solutions in oncology and neurosurgery are used in over 5,000 hospitals globally, and every day more than 100,000 patients receive diagnosis, treatment or follow-up with the help of a solution from the Elekta Group. Elekta employs around 2,500 employees globally. The corporate headquarter is located in Stockholm, Sweden, and the company is listed on the Nordic Exchange under the ticker EKTAb. For more information about Elekta, please visit www.elekta.com. About C-RAD C-RAD develops new and innovative solutions for the use in advanced radiation therapy. The company group of C-RAD offers products and solutions for patient positioning, tumor localization and radiation treatment systems. End users are radiation therapy clinics worldwide. All product development is conducted in three fully owned subsidiaries; C-RAD Positioning AB, C-RAD Imaging AB and C-RAD Innovation AB. C-RAD Imaging AB is located in Östersund while the other companies are located in Uppsala. The activities in C-RAD AB originate in research and development at the Karolinska Institutet in Solna and the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. Sales of the company's first product, the C-RAD Sentinel™, started during autumn 2006. C-RAD AB is a listed company on Aktietorget since 23 July 2007. For more information on C-RAD, please visit www.c-rad.se.